The original Muddler minnow was created by Don Gapen of Minnesota some time in the late 1930’s. He originally made it for brook trout in Ontario’s Nipigon River. It was later adopted by salmon fishermen and continues to evolve in there hands. The version below seems to be one of the most popular for salmon, although the original version is still used. Muddlers are most often fished for salmon after a spate when the water is dropping.